The night air had grown cool and still — the kind that made every sound seem sharper, every feeling deeper. The moonlight shimmered across the quiet river, wrapping Haruto and Miyu in a gentle silver glow. They had been sitting there for hours, saying little now, both lost in a strange, peaceful silence.
Then, softly, Miyu broke it.
"Haruto…" she said, her voice a little hesitant but warm.
"Yeah?" he turned to her, eyes calm, the reflection of the stars flickering in them.
She hesitated, fingers playing with the hem of her skirt. "Can you… stay with me tonight?"
Haruto blinked, surprised. "Huh? Stay with you?"
Miyu nodded slightly, avoiding his gaze. "My mom's not coming home tonight. She said she'll be working at the hospital until morning. I just… don't want to be alone right now."
Her voice trembled a little, and he could see how honest that request was — not born from impulse or desire, but from loneliness.
